Saturday, April 3, 2010

Love’s Extravagance

washing feet

Then  Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus,

and wiped His feet with her hair.  And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

 

Mary, who casts aside all regard for those around her, those who might misunderstand and criticize; Mary with her long hair let down, in extravagance, - so much  in love.   It is as if no one else was there, only Jesus and Mary.  We are shocked by her boldness.

And yet… do we not all long to be like Mary…to fill the air with our extravagant love?  He longs for you to draw near to Him as Mary did and feel how He loves you.  You cannot help but respond and that is what made Mary special; she was compelled by His love.  “A bruised reed, He shall not break and a smouldering wick, He shall not quench.”  The Lord will  inflame you with His love and you will become extravagant.

What will you give in response to His love? Paul said, “I have been grasped by Christ and now I am grasping Him.”

William Barclay writes: “…the whole Church was filled with the sweet memory of Mary’s action.  A lovely deed becomes the possession of the whole world and adds to the beauty of life in general, something which time cannot ever take away.”

What will you give in response to His passion…or will you say, “I never knew.” 

No comments: